Government has teamed up with Samsung Electronics Africa and UNESCO to construct an ultra-modern digital village in Volo (a farming community) in the Volta Region.
The digital village which is the first of its kind in West Africa is estimated to cost around US$860,000.
Situated at the heart of the North Tongu district Assembly, the digital village will provide education, health services and internet services to residents of Volo area and neighbouring communities.
The components of the Digital village include a Solar Powered internet school – built to accommodate up to 24 students – a solar powered Tele-Medical centre and a solar powered generator that will be used to power nearby governmental offices and schools with limited electricity supply.
Speaking on how the parties settled on Volo to house the digital village, the marketing manager of Samsung electronics Africa, revealed that; “It was driven by the news of a pregnant woman dying here last year due to her inability to access health care. The door to the hospital was closed and there was nobody with a key to open”
“This issue occupied our minds for some time and we came around the community with the District Chief Executive to access the landscape and we realised they needed these facilities”, he said
He also added that; “We have other projects lined up for the year, we are going to support female in Engineering Academy, and we are looking at setting up a national teacher centre which will train several teachers”
Meanwhile, a deputy Minister of Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah has thanked Samsung ad UNESCO for this initiative and is confident the facility will improve living conditions in the area.
“It is a very innovative concept which is strategically located and can serve about 30 communities. We are excited by this initiative by Samsung Electronics and we believe that it will really help in improving the livelihoods here” – he said.
By: Benjamin Epton Owusu/citifmonline.com/Ghana